In such a time as this, when the lines of distinction between the church and the world are growing ever more indiscernible, we must exercise caution in order not to fall prey to deception and false teaching.

While there are a great many beliefs today that are outright heresies, there are also beliefs that contain a modicum of truth yet miss the mark entirely when applied incorrectly.

Such is the case with the teaching that Christians are to separate themselves from the world. Certainly, no true follower of Christ should argue that we are not to emulate the world and its behavior. Nor are we to align ourselves with its un-Christ-like ideologies. Scripture makes this very clear; I believe.

We must be careful however in our application of this teaching because God has called us to be salt and light to this world. Or to put it another way, if we are to be effective witnesses for Christ we must interact with this world. We cannot hide our light under a bushel. [1]

To sequester ourselves apart from the world is to destroy both our witness and our credibility. The world today is in desperate need of a Savior, and you and I have been assigned the awesome responsibility of taking the Savior to the world, not hiding Him from the world.

It’s true that God has called us to be a people set apart unto himself. Sadly, due to a misapplication of this concept, many people use this as justification in setting themselves up as morally superior to everyone that doesn’t subscribe to their erroneous doctrine.

We see this attitude on display among pseudo Christian cults, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as certain “fringe” Christian groups like Oneness Pentecostals. Both groups consider themselves to be the “elect of God” and anyone not in agreement with their doctrines as apostates, thus condemning any “outsiders” to be lost. [2]

Obviously, we need to examine the scriptures in order to determine the truth about the whole notion of separation from the world. Here is what Paul said about this in his teaching to the church at Corinth.

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”

Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

“Iwill be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.” 2nd Corinthians 6:16-18

So, is Paul teaching that Christians are to have nothing to do with those outside the church of God? Of course not! That is the hallmark of a Pharisee, to see oneself as superior to others because of religious position or tradition. [3]

Paul is saying here that once we have been born again, God’s Spirit takes up residence within us and we then become His dwelling place, or temple. As such, God both lives in us and walks with us, all of which means we are on intimate terms with the Creator.

This special, intimate relationship requires that we abstain from those things, or idols, that defile our hearts and corrupt our intimacy with the Father. We may be in the world, but not of the world. [4]

What are these idols Paul speaks of, the ones we are to come out from and separate ourselves from? Some are obvious, such as having no other gods in our lives, but some are not so obvious. And dare I say they can be different for all of us?

An idol is essentially anything that comes between you and your Creator. Whatever consumes the bulk of your time, or so much of it that you have little time left to worship God, is an idol.

For some of us it is sports. Maybe TV takes all your time. Or a job that demands most of your waking hours. It could even be your boat, golf clubs, or fishing rods. For some of us it’s our electronic devices, such as cell phones and iPads.

What Paul is NOT saying in these verses is that we are to cut off all contact with anyone who isn’t part of our tribe (church). True enough, we should not hang around with people who are obviously negative influences. None of us should desire to become best friends with the neighborhood drug pusher, for example.

The fact remains however that even the worst among us needs a Savior, just as you and I did at one time. We may not have been the neighborhood drug pusher, but we were just as lost as they now are before coming to Christ. Our hearts were just as sin-laden as any other lost person. [5]

After all, sin is sin, and lost is lost. Race, ethnicity, income, ancestry, or any other factors notwithstanding, everyone needs the Savior. That’s why Jesus came: to seek and save that which was lost. [6]

Paul tells us that because God now dwells within us, we are the sons and daughters of God. As such, our light should shine before all men that they might come to know Jesus Christ as Lord. [7]

Come out from among idols? Absolutely! Separate ourselves from those things which turn our hearts away from the Lord? Without question!

Please don’t however, turn away from anyone in need of a Savior just because they aren’t like you. Don’t distance yourself so far from them that you can no longer have compassion on their plight.

Remember: that was you and I at one time.

Be blessed, in Jesus name.

Ron

[1] Matt. 5:14,15…You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

[2] Jehovah’s Witnesses are a cult because they deny the deity of Christ, which makes them anti-Christ even though they claim to be ‘Christian’. John 1:1 states “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. In their New World Translation, Jehovah’s Witnesses translate John 1:1 as “the Word was a god”, thus denying Christ His divinity. Emphasis mine

[3] Matt. 23:1-7…Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.

[4] John 17:14…I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

[5] Colossians 1:21,22…And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight

[6] Luke 19:10…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

[7] Matt. 5:16…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Readers of this blog are well aware that I have not shied away from taking to task the many sexual predators who are part of the Catholic Church hierarchy. Whether the abuser is a Priest, a Bishop, or a Pope, there is a seemingly endless trail of shattered and broken lives in the wake of the unprecedented abuse of the Catholic Church’s many deviant and perverted sexual predators.

That is not to say that the Catholic Church stands alone in its abuse of innocent boys and girls. Far from it. As today’s church rejects the clear teaching of God’s Word, thus becoming less Christ-like in the process, it is becoming more and more like the world, willingly taking upon it the sins and iniquities for which Christ died.

In essence, what we are witnessing today is the proverbial “I want my cake and I want to eat it too”. In other words, the Church wants to be recognized as Christ’s representative here on earth, but at the same time want to indulge itself in the vile sins of the world. Such are men and women who have had their conscious seared with a hot iron. [1]

That being said, it would be unfair of me to fail to call out these same types of predators who ‘worship’ in other churches, so today’s blog will center around the recent sexual abuse scandal that has been brought to light in the Baptist church.

Before I begin, I am well aware that this is not a popular subject. There will be no “Amens!” shouted from the pew. No one will applaud this message because the truth is most people would rather not know of these abuses in the Church.

When I speak on subjects like this, it usually generates silence. No one wants to believe that their church leader could be guilty of such heinous behavior. And besides, the attitude that some things are best left unsaid is just as alive in the church today as it always has been.

All of that aside, I recently came across an article in the Houston Chronicle that details a pattern of sexual abuse in Baptist churches in Texas going as far back as 1998. In that time, approximately 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers have faced allegations of sexual misconduct for their abuse of over 700 victims. [2]

The pattern of sexual perverion and abuse in these Baptist churches differs little from that which is taking place in the Catholic Church. Indeed, a summary of the article linked above details a very similar approach to sexual abuse.

“Many of the victims were adolescents who were molested, sent explicit photos or texts, exposed to pornography, photographed nude, or repeatedly raped by youth pastors. Some victims as young as 3 were molested or raped inside pastors’ studies and Sunday school classrooms. A few were adults — women and men who sought pastoral guidance and instead say they were seduced or sexually assaulted.”

So, a reasonable person might wonder what in the world is going on here? These are not isolated incidences of a rogue minister gone bad. This is a clear and established pattern of sexual corruption and abuse. This is also a very clear testimony to the fact that these ‘ministers’ are wolves in sheeps clothing, unregenerate in heart.

How can such things be permitted to happen, or better yet how could these predators have been allowed to remain in positions of power and authority?

One of the answers to those questions, and there are many, is that there is an expectation that members of the church, in particular the clergy, will conduct themselves in such a manner as to exhibit the highest moral and ethical behavior possible. They are,after all, supposedly representing God as they fulfill the duties of their position. [3]

That is the expectation at least, one I believe that is shared by most.

Because the expectation is that the clergy will always take the high road, it can be difficult for laypersons to believe that any of them could actually be capable of committing such acts of sexual violence against our childeren. Thus, it makes it easier to either disregard an allegation or choose to simply look the other way when confronted with the evidence.

Disregarding ANY allegation however is completely unacceptable, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. I can think of no place where this should be permitted, most certainly not the Church. Choosing to look the other way in the face of sexual abuse allegations is tantamount to saying “I don’t care”.

Every single sexual abuse allegation MUST be investigated to the full extent of the law, and perpetrators found guilty must be punished according to the same extent of the law. Anyone found guilty of covering up sexual abuse in the church is just as guilty as the perpetrator, and MUST share in the guilt of the offender and must also be punished accordingly.

Beloved, these things are taking place because the Church, just like the world in which she abides, is systematically severing its relationship with the Almighty. Having convinced itself that it is above reproach, there is nothing off limits to it as she seeks to disregard the clear admonition of scripture to “come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing…”. [4]

Church leaders of every denomination would do well to read again the words of Jesus as he spoke to the Laodicean church this warning:

“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neithercold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.Because you say,‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel youto buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; andwhite garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” Rev. 3:16-19

Rest assured, the day is coming when every deed will be judged. No one will escape the judgement seat of Christ. Not Catholic, Baptist, or any other religious person.

In that day, Jesus said that he would separate the sheep on his right hand from the goats on his left hand. Many will be shocked to see those they had held in high esteem being ordered to stand with the goats, as their sins will be made known to all. [5]

God’s Church deserves better then this. Jesus Christ was mocked, beaten, and whipped until nearly dead. Forced to carry the instrument of his own impending death, He staggered through the streets until reaching the place of execution. Without hesitation He allowed his hands and feet to be nailed to the Cross, after which He was elevated above the earth so all could see Him. Hanging there naked, blood pouring out of his body, he became the Supreme Sacrifice for the sins of all men.

This is the True Leader of the Church! I submit to you that any man or woman who is guilty of perverse sexual sin against His Church, has never had an encounter with Him!

Of course, most of us know people like this. The world is a very selfish place, after all.

But what if we substituted them, they, and themselves for me, us, and ourselves?

That changes things a bit, doesn’t it? It sort of places us in the uncomfortable position of determining whether our focus is inward or outward.

As Christians we know that we cannot live our lives only for ourselves because the Bible is very clear that this life is not all about us, our wishes, our desires, or our needs.

It’s actually ALL about Him.

Because it’s ALL about Him, our focus then must be outward and not inward. As difficult and as challenging as that might be at times, we have no other choice. The fact is, we have been commanded to love others just as Christ loves us.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13: 34-35

Loving one another is one of the foundational truths of the Church. Our love and concern for one another tells the world that we have Christ abiding within us.

The world in which we live however, says that YOU are number one, that YOU are the most important person in the world. This concept is both unbiblical and self-defeating because it attempts to lift us up while denigrating God.

In Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia, he reminded them that through love they were to serve one another. To emphasize this, he also gave them a warning that if they did not do this, but rather turned on one another, they would eventually destroy each other.

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! Gal. 5:13-15

Ours is a call to serve, to prefer others, to put another’s needs before our own. This is the litmus test of whether we are who we say we are, or if we are yet another in a long line of imposters.

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3: 17-18

Do you and I care about others?

If so, do they know it because we tell them, or because we show them by our actions?

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Gal. 6:9-10

By focusing outward instead of inward, we are presented with innumerable opportunities to minister to others.

From where I set, I think the world could use a whole lot more of that.

Then why on earth are we Christians so consumed with creating our own version of heaven on earth?

I mean where do we draw the line between being salt and light to this world, and wanting to supposedly claim dominion over the earth in Jesus name?

I don’t want to take control of this earth, neither is it a mandate from Jesus that we do so. There are many false teachings floating about today, particularly those coming from the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) camp that say Christians are to rule the earth NOW.

I won’t bore you with the gory details, but a quick search over at 828 ministries will provide ample evidence of their four primary mandates,with Dominionism being the primary one. This false belief states that Christians must conquer the world in order to facilitate the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Nothing could be further from the truth! Time after time the scripture makes it crystal clear that we just passing through here. This world is not our home. Even the great patriarch Abraham was told by God to look for a city whose builder and maker was God. In addition, Jesus tells us we are not to lay up treasures on this earth.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt.6:19-21

Scripture is clear, John the Revelator saw a new heaven and a new earth coming down from God out of heaven, for the former earth was passed away. Does that sound like we should be wasting our time trying to gain control of an earth that is one day going to be destroyed?

I believe in living life to the fullest. Enjoy all that God has given us while we are here. Live the abundant life Jesus talked about in John chapter 10. Go for it in Jesus name! Yet never forget that we are but strangers and Pilgrims here on this earth.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hebrews 11:13

One day, one glorious day, we will inherit a new earth. One that will never be corrupted by sin. A place where we will live without sickness, without ever experiencing lack or want of any thing. Jesus is even now preparing such a place for you and I!

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

Rest in the promise that God has a better place for us, a place where we will live with Christ for all eternity. No matter your plight here on earth, when we step into that new home that has been prepared for us all will be forgotten here below.

Thank God, this world is not my home. This is but a place of preparation, a dress rehearsal for that which is to come!

Recently I came across an article that talked about pastors filling in their church calendars for the new year. The gist of this article dealt with whether or not the items that made their calendars was real ministry or simply “busy work”.

It made for interesting reading, especially when one of the pastors posted a link to his calendar for everyone to see. Imagine my surprise when lo and behold nearly every day of the week was filled from early morning till late in the evening.

Everything from early morning Bible studies and Zumba classes, afternoon staff and business meetings, to evening choir practice and healthy cooking classes filled this church’s calendar.

Frankly, it was the busiest church calendar I have ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them. At first glance one would be inclined to say that this church was very busy, and they certainly were. I couldn’t imagine them squeezing anything else into an already stuffed daily agenda.

There was something odd however about this church calendar. I couldn’t figure it out at first, but I couldn’t shake the notion that in spite of so many agenda items something was missing.

Then it hit me. There was something missing! In fact, I noticed two missing items. The first was that there was no time built into the calendar for corporate prayer. The second thing that I noticed missing was there was not one single event or activity geared toward anyone outside the four walls of the church!

As I studied this I was reminded of something that Jesus said to the church at Ephesus, one of the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation.

2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 “and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:2-4(NKJV). Emphasis mine

Lets look at these verses in detail because I think we might see ourselves in them.

Jesus recognized the works that the church had been doing. He called attention to their labor and patience, and how many of us can relate when it comes to having patience when doing the Lords work?

Jesus also mentioned the church’s disdain for those who practiced evil. All of us understand this don’t we? We are trying to live a Godly life in the midst of a perverse and increasingly evil society, and it’s only going to become more challenging.

He goes on to list several more very positive attributes of the church at Ephesus, leaving no doubt that He knew this church intimately. Hmmm…do you suppose Jesus knows the church you attend in such intimate detail?

At first glance this church could be the model for all other churches in the area. Things were going good, and I imagine there was quite a buzz about all the wonderful things the church at Ephesus was doing.

But, and there’s always a but, right? There was a problem in the church, a problem so important that Jesus couldn’t let it slide without calling their attention to it.

It all began with the word “nevertheless”. Just hearing the word sends thoughts of “uh oh, here it comes” to our minds. Even after all of the praise Jesus gave the church, there was a “nevertheless” that cast a dark shadow on what was an otherwise glowing report.

Nevertheless, he said, this church had lost their first love.

Ouch!

What does this mean, to have lost your first love? It means that the church at Ephesus no longer loved the Lord with the same level of intensity they once had. Their passionate love for Jesus had been replaced by something else.

They had lost their zeal for Christ. Typically when this happens, we just go through the motions of serving God. Our heart is no longer motivated by the love of Jesus, we become content to do as many good works as we can, placing our trust in the deeds themselves rather than Jesus.

Ask me how I know this!

Do you know what this is called? It’s called RELIGION, and it ceases to be about a relationship with Christ. The church at Ephesus abandoned their first love in exchange for cold, formal, impersonal RELIGION.

This is the same poison that has infected the Church today. The poison of RELIGION has suffocated the once fervent relationship she had with Christ. This is why there is such apathy in the pew today. We have supplanted relationship with form, with rules, with do’s and dont’s.

But it doesn’t have to be like this! There’s more to the story! In the next verse, Jesus gave the church at Ephesus an “out”. He told them to REPENT. That’s right, simply REPENT.

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Rev. 2:5 KJV

I believe that this is the message for the Church today. Remember where we came from, acknowledge we have strayed, repent and get going again.

Return to the love of Jesus, then watch how much impact our works will have on the world around us!

One would think the answer would be obvious, but is it? In Acts 2 we read “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

According to this verse, the purposes of the church are 1) doctrinal,biblical teaching, 2) creating an opportunity for the fellowship of believers, 3) observing the Lord’s supper, and 4) praying.

While all of this is true, it barely scratches the surface because the Church is so much more than that!

Paul gave an excellent illustration of this to the believers at Corinth. He taught them that the Church is to be the visible, living, hands, mouth, and feet of God in this world. In other words…the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We are to be doing the very things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth.

We are to be replicating the work He already did. This is one of the greatest travesties of our day, that the Church is constantly trying to reinvent itself in order to become more relevant. The die has already been cast friends, we simply need to do what Jesus did.

The Church consists of ordinary people held together by an extraordinary God for the extraordinary purpose of revealing His heart to a lost world. Why is the church here? The answer is so that we can be Jesus to the world!

As individual members of the Church, we are tasked with asking ourselves “does this world know by our actions that we are the hands,mouth, and feet of God”?

My last post in this series ended by asking “what nation would ever turn its back God”?

Today’s post will focus on both the identity of the nation, as well as the “blame game” being played regarding responsibility for what is taking place in America today.

Before I delve into this, I want to state up front that in no way am I trying to convince anyone that the problems that have befallen us are either simplistic or easy to fix. My goal with this series is simple: identify the root of the problem, and then point out the obvious (to me) solution.

As to the question “what nation would turn its back on God”, the answer is painfully obvious: that nation is America. Just as Nathan the prophet said to David “you are the man” when exposing his great sin, so it is that America is being systematically exposed as the nation that has forsaken its God.

The parallel between America and ancient Israel is unmistakable. The simple table below highlights just as few examples:

Though America’s approach is a subtle one, there can be no doubt that we are following in the footsteps of ancient Israel, allowing ourselves to become ensnared in a noose from which there is no escape. Just as Israel could not escape their coming judgement, neither shall we.

From a Christian point of view, I am dumbfounded that we are seemingly blind to this. Oh, for sure there are voices out there that say they know that things are not right, that they believe we are going the wrong direction as a nation. But they are painfully few and far between.

What I cannot fathom, in light of what should be so obvious, is the relative silence from God’s people! Where is the moral outrage? Instead of righteous indignation and contempt, instead of a cry from our denominational leaders for a day of fasting and repentance, what usually comes from the Christian camp is silence.

Or even worse, blame.

The Church has fallen headlong into the same mindset as the world, which is it’s easier to affix blame than it is to acknowledge the truth. And the truth, I’m afraid, is very, very ugly! Acknowledgment of the truth, you see, negates our pleas of ignorance.

There is a fundamental problem with the Church looking to assign blame for the despair that prevails in America today. That is not the responsibility of the Church, yet we have permitted ourselves to jump on the blame bandwagon so that we can attempt to defend our positions!

The Left blames the Right. The Right blames the Left. And so it goes. As long as we can assign blame to one group or another we feel content in our smug self-righteousness that THEY are the problem!

Let’s throw away our cloaks of pretense and disguise, shall we? I’ve been saying for a long time on this blog that we in America have a “God problem”. Yes indeed, our problem has become what to do about God, for we certainly don’t want Him any longer!

In part 3 of this series I will show you how that America’s “God problem” is so firmly entrenched as to be all but impossible to reverse. You will see that God is no longer part of the solution in the minds of America’s leaders. He has actually become part of their problem!